Flexible nose cone antenna

ABSTRACT

A flexible tubular antenna is coiled and stored inside a nose cone, and released through a rear door by spring or fluid pressure, applied as necessary to uncoil the antenna and maintain rigidity. The antenna trails behind the cone a sufficient distance to remain effective during the reentry period. Cooling is supplied by an outside layer of ablative material.

United States Patent Inventor Norris F. Dow

. Radnor, Pa.

Appl. No. 604,529

Filed Dec. 21, 1966 Patented Jan. 1 l, 1972 Assignee The United Statesof America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force FLEXIBLENOSE CONE ANTENNA 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 343/707, 343/873 Int. Cl l-l0lq 1/30 Field of Search 343/707,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,212,128 8/1940 Richter343/915 A UX 3,170,471 2/1965 Schnitzer 343/915 A UX PrimaryExaminer-Rodney D. Bennett, .lr. Assistant Examiner-Richard E. BergerAttorneys-Harry A. Herbert, Jr. and Ruth 0. Codier ABSTRACT: A flexibletubular antenna is coiled and stored inside a nose cone, and releasedthrough a rear door by spring or fluid pressure, applied as necessary touncoil the antenna and maintain rigidity. The antenna trails behind thecone a sufficient distance to remain effective during the reentryperiod. Cooling is supplied by an outside layer of ablative material.

FLEXIBLE NOSE CONE ANTENNA The present invention relates to acollapsible communications antenna particularly designed for use in thenose cone of space vehicles during the reentry stage of flight.

There is an acute need for facilities for maintaining uninterruptedcommunications with space craft during the critical period of reentry.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a flexibleantenna element coiled when not in use, housed in a small space insidethe nose cone, and provided with an adequate heat absorbing shield forprotection when uncoiled and functioning.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a flexible antennawhich is inflated by a pressure source which may also be housed withinthe nose cone, and one which uncoils to trail behind the nose coneeasily withstands buffeting and turbulence, and if distorted will beforced back into functioning shape by further pressure applied from thepressure source.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an antennaas described above which is of such material and is so treated that itis able to withstand the conditions of reentry and remain functioning,thereby making it possible to maintain communications between ground andspacecraft during the critical reentry period.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such an antenna ashas been described wherein cooling is supplied by ablation of antennacoating materials.

These and other advantages, features and objects of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following description taken in connectionwith the illustrative embodiments in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of the device showing the rear walldoor open and the antenna in coiled condition;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal fragmentary view of the nose cone partly incross section, showing the compartment door open, the antenna extendedand showing in phantom the coiled position of the antenna and some ofits intermediate positions; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of one possible formof the antenna.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the shell or casing of a nosecone is represented in FIGS. 1 and 2 by the numeral 10. Mounted in therear wall 12 of the cone is a door 14 which is shown hinged at 15. Thedoor 14 may be jettisonable as required. A housing 16 is located in theinterior space of the cone and is mounted on the rear wall 12 tocommunicate with the door opening. A compartment 18 is thus formed forhousing the antenna 20 when in coiled condition, as is shown in phantomin FIG. 2.

A source of pressure is indicated at 22 and pressure regulating means at24. Means for initiating the pressure source for 1 stated, so that itmay be whipped about in the turbulent conditions prevalent and stillmaintain its functioning capability. The antenna will be fabricated insuch fashion as to present an ablative material as an outer coating, sothat a sufficient amount of the heat encountered will be absorbed in theablative process to maintain the capability of the antenna.

FIG. 3 shows a possible choice of design and materials. A metallic layer32 is protected by insulating and ablative materials 27 and 28,respectively. A spring element 30 aug ments or replaces the inflatingmeans.

Some suggested materials for producing a laminated flexible structureand which presents an outer layer of ablative material are, forexarngle, rubber and s nthetic rubbers as an inner lrnrng over whrc rssupenmpose an ablative matenal such as ablative Teflon.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particularembodiment, it will be understood to those skilled in the art that theinvention is capable of a variety of alternative embodiments within thespirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

I. A nose cone antenna unit comprising a nose cone casing, a rear wallon said casing, a housing located within said casing and adjacent saidrear wall, an openable door on said rear wall providing egress from saidhousing, a flexible inflatable antenna capable of being stored in saidhousing in deflated and coiled condition, means located within saidcasing for inflating said antenna to trail behind said nose cone, and alayer of ablative material covering said antenna for providing ablationand cooling of the antenna for uninterrupted function of said antennaduring the reentry period.

2. A nose cone antenna unit capable of uninterrupted function during thereentry period, said unit comprising a nose cone casing, a flexible,inflatable antenna unit, capable of being coiled in stored conditionwithin said nose cone casing, means for extending said antenna to trailbehind said nose cone means for extending said antenna to trail behindsaid nose cone and means for colling said antenna.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for cooling saidantenna comprises a coating thereon of ablative material.

1. A nose cone antenna unit comprising a nose cone casing, a rear wallon said casing, a housing located within said casing and adjacent saidrear wall, an openable door on said rear wall providing egress from saidhousing, a flexible inflatable antenna capable of being stored in saidhousing in deflated and coiled condition, means located within saidcasing for inflating said antenna to trail behind said nose cone, and alayer of ablative material covering said antenna for providing ablationand cooling of the antenna for uninterrupted function of said antennaduring the reentry period.
 2. A nose cone antenna unit capable ofuninterrupted function during the reentry period, said unit comprising anose cone casing, a flexible, inflatable antenna unit, capable of beingcoiled in stored condition within said nose cone casing, means forextending said antenna to trail behind said nose cone means forextending said antenna to trail behind said nose cone and means forcolling said antenna.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein saidmeans for cooling said antenna comprises a coating thereon of ablativematerial.